The Chandra X-ray Observatory measured a pulsating neutron star that is moving at a speed of about 2.25 million km/h.
For comparison, the fastest star in the Milky Way orbits Sgr A* — a supermassive black hole in the center of the galaxy. Its maximum speed is 86 million km/h.
To study the unusual pulsar, the researchers used X-rays, said astrophysicist Si Long from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA).
Astronomers have observed the luminous remnant of a supernova, it is located at a distance of about 20 thousand light-years from us and is called G292.0+1.8. During previous observations, researchers identified it as an accelerating pulsar.
The authors of the new work wanted to study the object to see if it could help to learn more about the supernova itself.
They studied images of supernova remnants taken in 2006 and 2016 and used Gaia device data on their location in the Milky Way. It turned out that the dead star is moving 30% faster than previously thought.
According to the team, this pulsar is about 20 times faster than the Earth’s motion around the Sun.